Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

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School of Humanities and Social Sciences

We believe in thinking critically about the past, present and future to challenge perceptions, understand communities and people, and shape them for the betterment of all.

Browse all our courses: undergraduate, postgraduate and research
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ARU Ideas

Get a taste of our teaching and research with videos, podcasts and more.

Explore our expertise
Our people
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Our research

From policing to fantasy literature, our research focuses on innovative and interdisciplinary responses to the challenges of modern society.

Explore our research
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HSS Creative Bootcamp

Supporting our students to find creative ways of presenting and communicating their work to a public audience.

Find out more about our Creative Bootcamp
Keep up to date with our latest posts on Twitter @ARUaboutideas
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Creative Showcase

Learn from yesterday, create for tomorrow.

Visit our Creative Showcase Events Facilities

Teaching Excellence Framework

Teaching across ARU was rated 'Gold' in the 2023 Teaching Excellent Framework (TEF).

Find out why we're rated Gold

University of the Year

We're proud to be the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. The University of the Year award honours ‘exceptional performance during the 2021-22 academic year'.

THE University of the Year award

Chat to our students and staff

Do you want to know more about a course or student life at ARU? Send a message to our students or staff – they'll be happy to answer any questions you have.